Mallikarjun Kharge, President of the Indian National Congress, has launched a series of sharp attacks against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing them of various misdeeds ranging from undermining the Constitution to economic mismanagement and neglecting states facing crises.
Kharge has asserted that the BJP and its ideological parent, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), harbor a desire to rewrite the Indian Constitution but will be unable to destroy it due to the will of the people. Addressing a public event in Mysuru, Karnataka, Kharge stated that the BJP and RSS are "talking about amending or rewriting the Constitution" but that the people of India would not allow them to do so. He went on to accuse Modi of "murdering" the Constitution, despite having bowed to it before entering Parliament. Kharge warned that if the people allow the BJP and RSS to change the Constitution, they will lose all their rights.
Kharge has also accused the Modi government of selling public sector undertakings (PSUs) to private entities like Adani and Ambani. He alleged that the government is prioritizing the interests of these corporations over the needs of the people, and that Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah are acting as "sellers" while Adani and Ambani are the "buyers". Kharge criticized the government for selling factories established by former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, arguing that these actions are not in the interest of the country's development.
Furthermore, Kharge has criticized the central government for ignoring the needs of states, particularly regarding the Goods and Services Tax (GST) dues and the crisis in Manipur. He claimed that the Centre returns only a small percentage of the GST that Karnataka deserves and accused the BJP of neglecting states suffering from crises like Manipur. Kharge has sharply criticized Modi for not visiting Manipur amidst the ongoing ethnic unrest, while also highlighting that the Prime Minister has traveled to 42 countries but has not found time to visit the conflict-ridden state. He contrasted this with Rahul Gandhi's visits to Manipur, emphasizing the Congress party's commitment to addressing the crisis. Kharge has demanded a thorough inquiry into the violence in Manipur and urged the central government to present a White Paper on the crisis.
Kharge has also attacked the Modi government's economic policies, stating that they have weakened constitutional institutions and undermined federalism. He alleged that the BJP and RSS have deliberately weakened constitutional institutions and attacked their autonomy. Kharge claimed that the government has failed to deliver on its promise of creating two crore jobs annually, and that economic inequality has reached its highest level in 100 years. He also stated that various government initiatives like "Make in India," "Startup India," and "Digital India" have failed.